Tender

Provision of Lead for Fixed Ballast, RRS Sir David Attenborough

  • UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)

UK4: Tender notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-067609

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05d1f0 (view related notices)

Published 22 October 2025, 4:31pm

Scope

Description

RRS Sir David Attenborough is an Ice class research ship that operates in the polar regions for UKRI research activities. The ship is very heavy towards the bow due to the ice strengthening. To correct the Ballast the ship requires 477 tonnes of lead ballast in the aft of the ship. The lead is to be inserted in man handleable blocks into a specially designed void space within the aft peak ballast tank.

The lead requires to be protected to prevent noise and vibration transmitting through the hull that would interfere with the acoustic equipment and create vibration.

Total value (estimated)

  • £2,000,000 excluding VAT
  • £2,400,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 16 December 2025 to 30 September 2026
  • 9 months, 15 days

Main procurement category

Goods

CPV classifications

  • 14712000 - Lead

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Participation

Particular suitability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

Submission

Enquiry deadline

3 November 2025, 2:00pm

Tender submission deadline

17 November 2025, 2:00pm

Submission address and any special instructions

To access this opportunity please click here:

https://ukri2.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_ContractPage?SearchType=Projects&uid=a1MTm000008W6k1MAC&searchStr=&sortStr=Recently+Published&page=1&filters=&County=

Please note the following steps for accessing this opportunity via the Atamis eSourcing platform:

1. Log in or create an account here: https://ukri2.my.site.com

2. Navigate to the opportunity in the Find an Opportunity section of the site or via the direct access link above.

3. Select Register Interest (you will not be able to view the tender documentation without registering an interest).

4. Go back to the main menu and navigate to the My Proposals and Quotes section of the site.

5. Select the opportunity from the list. Tender Documents for download are found in the Documents tab.

Tenders may be submitted electronically

Yes

Languages that may be used for submission

English

Award decision date (estimated)

1 December 2025

Award criteria

This table contains award criteria for this lot
Name Description Type Weighting
Price

80%

 Price 80.00%
Technical and Quality

20%

 Quality 20.00%

Other information

Applicable trade agreements

  • Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

Conflicts assessment prepared/revised

Yes

Procedure

Procedure type

Open procedure

Contracting authority

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDQJ-7126-JDHG

Polaris House

Swindon, Wiltshire

SN2 1FL

United Kingdom

Contact name: Kate Richardson

Telephone: 01793 442000

Email: nercprocurement@ukri.org

Website: https://www.ukri.org/

Region: UKK14 - Swindon

Organisation type: Public authority - central government